What MSP Onboarding Looks Like
Published
MSP onboarding is the process of handing day‑to‑day IT care over to a managed service provider so your team can stop fighting tech fires and focus on real work. It is written for small teams that are thinking about managed IT for the first time and for owners who worry that “bringing in IT” will slow everyone down or break what already works.
Before We Start: What We Review
Onboarding always starts with a short discovery session where we learn how your business runs today. We take inventory of your devices, internet connections, key apps, user accounts, and who is responsible for what so there are no surprises later on. This step is low‑pressure and mostly listening: you talk, we ask a few clarifying questions, and we document what we hear rather than pushing changes on day one. [web:0]
Week 1: Stabilize and Document
The first week is about stability and visibility, not big changes. We confirm that backups are working, security tools like antivirus are installed and updating, operating systems are getting patches, and your Wi‑Fi and internet are behaving the way you expect. At the same time, we collect and store logins in a secure password system and write down how things currently work so anyone on the DevForge IT team can help your users without guessing.
Week 1 Tasks in Plain Language
In practical terms, week 1 usually includes:
- Setting up secure remote access tools so we can support your team without interrupting them.
- Connecting your shared mailbox or ticket system so users always have a simple “email or click here for help” path.
- Confirming how to reach decision‑makers in an emergency and what “urgent” really means for your business.
- Creating or updating a basic asset list so we know which laptops, desktops, and servers we are responsible for.
Week 2: Hardening and Quick Wins
Once things are stable, week 2 focuses on tightening security and cleaning up obvious risks. We turn on multi‑factor authentication for key accounts, remove or disable unused logins, and improve password practices with a shared password manager where appropriate. We also address quick wins such as missing updates, weak Wi‑Fi passwords, overly broad admin rights, or simple configuration changes that make systems faster and more reliable. [web:0]
How We Keep People Working During Onboarding
Onboarding is designed to be as invisible as possible to your users. Wherever we can, we schedule disruptive work—like reboots, software installs, or Wi‑Fi changes—outside of core business hours. Before every noticeable change, we let you know what we are doing, when it will happen, and who to contact if something feels off, so your team is never guessing or stuck in the dark.
What You Get At The End
At the end of onboarding, you receive a short written summary of your environment in plain language: what you have, how it is protected, and where the main risks still are. You also get a simple “how to get help” guide that your team can bookmark or print, plus a 60–90 day improvement plan that lays out which projects will bring the most value next, such as better backup, stronger security, or smoother onboarding for new hires.
Is MSP Onboarding Right For You?
This type of onboarding is a strong fit for small teams without internal IT, businesses where “IT” is still someone’s side job, and remote‑first companies that need consistent support for people working from anywhere. If you want fewer surprises, clearer responsibility, and a partner who treats your environment like their own, it is worth having a conversation about managed IT and what DevForge IT’s onboarding could look like for your team.